Cancer survivor’s mom told she can’t walk in fundraiser unless she raises $2,000
June 28, 2011
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Richard J. Brennan
NATIONAL AFFAIRS WRITER
For Lorna Robinson and her daughter Erin, a cancer survivor, the annual Weekend to End Women’s Cancers two-day walk in Calgary was going to be another journey together in the fight against cancer.
The summertime highlight instead turned into an unpleasant skirmish with organizers of the July 23-34 walk to raise money and awareness.
Robinson told the Toronto Star she was flatly told by Alberta Cancer Foundation officials if she could not raise $2,000 she would be prohibited from walking with her 33-year-old daughter, and that if she insisted on participating the shortfall would be charged to her MasterCard.
“It has left a real bad taste in my mouth,” the 56-year-old registered practical nurse, who raised Erin on her own and has been with her every step of the way in his fight against cervical cancer, which was detected when Erin was pregnant.
“It was very important to my daughter and I that we finish this journey together . . . when she got cancer it rocked my world, too . . . it was going to be our way of giving back,” said Robinson, whose mother died of breast cancer.
Erin was able to raise the $2,000 but Robinson, who works shift work, struggled to get $500 given that she was drawing on the same circle of friends and relatives. “I figure $500 was better than none,” she said.
But Robinson, who lives in Airdrie, Alta., went public with her story and told the Star that through the kindness of strangers she has raised the difference.
Even so, she said the steadfast emphasis on upfront money suggests to her the event has lost its way.
“In my opinion they have lost their focus,” said Robinson, who has volunteered in past years to work the first aid tents along the walk.
A spokesperson for the Alberta Cancer Foundation confirmed that anyone participating must raise $1,250 in donations for one day only or $2,000 for both days — even a person pushing a wheelchair. There is also a $50 registration fee.
Lee Elliott, a spokesperson with the Alberta Cancer Foundation, said she was glad to hear that Robinson had attained the goal, “so it is a very good news story.”
“That is one the requirements of these events. We have a wide range of events and the fundraising minimums vary dramatically,” Elliott said, suggesting Robinson could always have chosen another fundraising event where the entry fee was not quite so steep.
Last year’s walk in Edmonton and Calgary raised $4 million and attracted about 2,000 participants. The 2011 provincial walk is being held in Calgary only.
“The vast numbers of our participants actually exceed their fundraising minimum. On average they raise about $3,000 each,” Elliott said. “This will be our seventh year of hosting this event and we have had thousands and thousands of people and families successfully meet that target.”
Robinson said the fact remains that people should be able to participate and give what they can.
“After all it is a good cause . . . people shouldn’t have to go through what I went through,” she said.
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